Tag Indian cricket

Truth be told - I'm not much of a statistic guy. I believe past exerts no significance on present or what will be the future. but I came across an article yesterday that inspired me to dig deep into which cricket grounds have been the worst test venues for Indian cricket.

Indian cricketers have been bad travelers ever since cricket evolved in our nation, so Lords in London appeared obvious pick. That English ground usually hosts the first test of every tour, thus dismal performance is always expected.. but 10 losses from 15 played is actually very sad information for Indian fans. Second toughest cricket stadium for our team has been Kensington Oval in West Indies, where not a single win has ever come. 9 test matches there fetched just one draw, & 7 huge losses.

Third worst test ground for India, would you believe, is our own Indian home of cricket - Eden Gardens.8 wins have come at a cost of as many losses & numerous boring draws.

I've layed out what happened, and when, at those 3 worst test grounds for Indian cricket, with who were the top performers then (no Man of Match award was given untill late seventies). I also hope I'll write something on best test venues for us some time very soon.

Lords cricket ground - London
1932 - lost by 158 runs.
1936 - Lost by 9 wickets.
1946 - Lost by 10 wickets.
1952 - Lost by 8 wickets.
1959 - lost by 8 wickets.
1967 - lost by innings & 124 runs.
1971 - match drawn.
1974 - lost by innings & 285 runs.
1979 - match drawn. MOM - D Vengsarkar (103 runs).
1982 - lost by 7 wickets. MOM - Kapil Dev (8 wkts & 41 + 89 runs).
1986 - India won by 5 wickets. MOM - Kapil Dev (5 wkts & 24 runs).
1990 - lost by 247 runs. MOM - Graham Gooch (333 + 123 runs & 1 wkt).
1996 - match drawn. MOM - Jack Russell (124 + 38 runs).
2002 - lost by 170 runs. MOM - Nasser Hussain (155 + 12 runs).
2007 - draw (1 wkt in hand), MOM - Kevin Pietersen (37 + 134).
2011 - lost by 196 runs, MOM - Kevin Pietersen (202*).

Note - All test matches against England. That 1967 match had unique regulation of awarding one best bowler & best batsman from both the teams. TW Graveney & BK Kunderan won the batsman award whereas Ray Illingworth & Bhagwat Chandrashekar won bowlers awards.

Kensington Oval - Barbados
1953 - Lost by 142 runs.
1962 - Lost by innings & 30 runs.
1971 - match drawn.
1976 - Lost by innings & 97 runs.
1983 - Lost by 10 wickes. MOM - Mohinder Amarnath (91 + 80 runs).
1989 - Lost by 8 wickets. MOM - Ravi Shastri (113 runs + 4 wkts).
1997 - lost by 38 runs. MOM - S Chanderpaul (140 runs).
2002 - lost by 10 wickets. MOM - M Dillon (8 wickets).
2011 - Draw. MOM - Ishant Sharma (10 wickets).
Note : all test matches against West Indies.

Eden Gardens - Kolkatta
1933 - match drawn vs England.
1948 - match drawn vs windies.
1951 - match drawn vs England.
1952 - match drawn vs Pakistan.
1955 - match drawn vs New Zealand.
1956 - Australia won by 94 runs.
1958 - Windies won by innings & 336 runs.
1959 - match drawn vs Australia.
1960 - match drawn vs Pakistan.
1962 - India won by 187 runs over England.
1963 - match drawn vs England.
1964 - match drawn vs Australia.
1964 - match drawn vs New Zealand.
1966 - Windies won by innings & 45 runs.
1969 - Australia won by 10 wickets.
1972 - India won by 28 runs.
1974 - India won by 85 runs.
1976 - England won by 10 wickets.
1978 - match drawn vs windies.
1979 - match drawn vs Australia.
1979 - match drawn vs Pakistan.
1981 - match drawn vs England.
1984 - windies won by innings & 46 runs.
1984 - match drawn vs England.
1986 - match drawn vs Pakistan.
1987 - match drawn vs windies.
1992 - India beat England by 8 wickets.
1996 - South Africa won by 329 runs.
1997 - India beat Australia by innings & 219 runs.
1999 - Pakistan won by 46 runs. MOM - see note.
2000 - India beat Aus by 171 runs. MOM - Laxman (281 runs).
2002 - match drawn vs windies. MOM - Harbhajan Singh (5/115).
2004 - India beat RSA by 8 wkts. MOM - R Dravid (88 + 10 runs).
2005 - India beat Pak by 195 runs. MOM - Rahul Dravid (110 & 135 runs).

Note - That 1999 India vs Pakistan test match at Eden Gardens had two man of the matches. Saeed Anwar for his duck & 188 not out whereas Javagal Srinath picked up 5 for 46 then 8 for 86 in the second innings. Yet, India lost the test by 46 runs.